CHICAGO — One of the city's top high-school basketball teams has been stripped of its city title after a CPS investigation found some of its players were academically ineligible, the district announced Friday evening.
Seven Curie Metropolitan High School players were found to be academically ineligible since the start of the 2013-14 season, resulting in the forfeiture of all 24 of the team's wins and its city championship. The team went 24-1, and topped Whitney Young in four overtimes in last week's city championship game.
Curie is ranked second in the nation by USA Today.
Curie head coach Michael Oliver has also been suspended for an as-yet-to-be-determined time.
“Chicago Public Schools has a proud tradition of athletic competition and sportsmanship, but our number one responsibility to our students is providing them with a solid academic foundation that will serve them the rest of their lives," said CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett. "As adults, educators and mentors, it is our responsibility to teach our students right from wrong and, unfortunately, the adults let these student athletes down by failing to do that and comply with CPS policies.”
CPS will not award a title for boys varsity basketball.
Though Curie forfeited its season, it can still compete in the upcoming IHSA tournament, which has different eligibility requirements, the district said.
IHSA executive director Marty Hickman said the organization is in contact with CPS.
"We are unable to make an official comment until reviewing the final report from the CPS Athletic Administration on the investigation. We hope to be in a position to do so by Monday," he said.
CPS said its athletes must maintain a 2.0 grade point average or have a signed Individual Study Plan, the district said.
